Business News

Good marks for OutDoor’s 20th edition

The 20th edition of the OutDoor show, held July 11-14 in Friedrichshafen, Germany drew 21,465 trade visitors from 93 countries, a minor decrease from the 21,730 people who attended in 2012. The organizer, Messe Friedrichshafen, was very pleased that this year’s show enjoyed a strong international presence. Strong growth was especially registered from non-European countries such as Chile, the USA, India and Indonesia.

In total, 913 (2012: 907) exhibitors from 42 countries presented the outdoor industry’s newest products and innovations across 85,000 sq. meters (915,000 sq. ft.). Media interest also increased compared to last year: 1,049 journalists (compared to 1,019 in 2012) from 31 countries came to Lake Constance to report from the show. In addition to exhibitors and journalists, industry representatives also gave this year’s edition good marks, as a survey of trade visitors makes clear: 88% of them stated that their visit to OutDoor 2013 had paid off. The economic situation in the outdoor industry was ranked by 44% as strengthening and by 34% as stable. Nine-tenths of the guests at the show have already decided to attend the 21st OutDoor. It will take place from July 10-13, 2014.

"With the economy constantly in the news, there was a degree of uncertainty as to what the Outdoor 2013 would bring. The answer is confirmation that the weather still plays a crucial role in the fortunes of our industry and whilst the economic conditions have been challenging in the first half of 2013, the mood of the industry is still positive and there is still growth to look forward to,” said Mark Held, secretary general of the European Outdoor Group (EOG), summing things up at the close of the show.